

D^TOiL or 



Popular Science Monthly 



ning to be called leather." The excess 

 water is now removed, and the skin 

 "stoned," i. e., rubbed and ironed until 

 the wrinkles are all removed. 



Now comes the splitting — the most in- 

 teresting operation to laymen. This is 

 accomplished on a delicately adjusted 

 machine having an endless knife travel- 

 ing between two rolls. The upper, or 

 "gauge" roll, determines the thickness 

 that the leather will be s]:)lit, while the 

 lower, a "ring" roll made 

 up of a numl:)er of small 

 rolls independent of one 

 another, forces the skin up 

 evenly, so that any irregu- 

 larities in the hide are not 

 transmitted into the split. 

 The leather is split, as has 

 already been told. 



After splitting, all hides 

 are re-tanned and thor- 

 oughly rinsed and scoured. 

 Then follows a bath in a 

 liquor boiled from the 

 ground leaves of the su- 

 mac tree, which serves to 

 brighten them and make 

 them more pliable. 



Next the leather is lu- 

 bricated. This process is 

 known as "stuffing" and 

 consists in filling the filjres 

 with a coating of cod oil 

 and other greases. Both 

 sides are treated in the 

 case of top grains, and the 

 flesh side only of splits. 

 Now the leather is tacked 

 upon frames where it is 

 stretched and allowed to 

 dry. After removal from 

 these frames, it is soften- 

 ed, and made ready for the 

 enameling. 



This consists first of a 

 number of coats of linseed 

 oil — varying in consistency 

 — which are allowed to dry before re- 

 ceiving the Japan. This also is ap- 

 plied m successive lavers, allowing all 

 to harden. Then the leather is taken to 

 the embossing presses, where the attrac- 

 tive crevices are stamped into the splits. 

 The top grains are usually not embossed 

 in this way, as a special' method of re- 

 tanning accomplishes this. At this stage 



117 



all leathers receive a coat of color, usual- 

 ly black, which is their finished surface. 

 If the leather is found to be somewhat 

 stifif, it is softened by rubbing with a 

 cork armboard. After cleaning and 

 measuring, each piece is rolled up ready 

 for the market. 



It is necessary to emboss all splits, 

 and as this is a mechanical operation, a 

 careful examination of the leather will 

 reveal this repetition of design, while in 



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Details of construction of craftsman desk chair 



the best grades, that are not embossed, 

 this repetition of crevices will not be 

 api)arcnt. 



W) clean leather, s[)onge with warm 

 water softened with borax and rub with 

 an old soft cloth ; then rub in a few 

 drops of glycerine and polish with 

 chamois. 'IV) extract grease spots, rub 

 softly with flannel dipped in ether. 



